Construction Cost of Expressways

A method of estimating highway construction costs in the tri-state region of New York-New Jersey-Connecticut indicates the influence of the wide range of development densities throughout this area. The explanation of this method includes its derivation from two earlier methods, and presents comparative cost results of all three methods in terms of the following units: (1) route-mile (mile of road); (2) lane-mile; and (3) interchange. All cost estimates are functions of the development density, expressed herein as persons per square mile, in that particular locale, which is anywhere between sparsely populated rural areas and highly dense urban areas. The cost trends revealed by these data provide a basis for evaluation studies in regionwide highway planning.